fluorescent light humidity trouble

i installed a lrg (36x36 double u-tubed) fluorescent kitchen light fixture a year ago, and it was working fine until a couple of mths ago.

now, whenever the humidity is high (whether via a rainstorm or simply summer heat) the light does not want to switch on at all OR switch on fully (you'll see a faint start-up on one side of the fixture, which does not fully illuminate. and the other bulb side stays dormant)

i've replaced both 2-way switches, but this did not solve the prob

could i be dealing with a moisture prob from above, in my attic? while this might help explain a prob with the rain, it does not cover those days of simple high humidity.

my roof is "new" (10 yrs old), but i know i have some soft/rotting fascia

(post #84069, reply #2 of 15)

On linear tubes that have been around for a while, specially in a kitchen, I find that the bulbs will get coated with grease and dirt and that keeps them from striking when it is humity.

I have had good luck cleaning the bulbs including the ends around the pins and also the face of the socket.

Rubbing alcholo is good for that.

I did that in one kitchen with 2 sets of 4 ft fixtures.

But there was one with 2x2 with U-tube. First of one those that I worked on. It has a new bulb that the HO son has just replaced. I replaced the ballast and it did not help.

End up trying a diffrent brand of bulb and it worked fine.

There was a difference in the dsigns. The one that did not work right had a metal foil tape that ran the lenght of the bulb and was grounded by a mounting clip that helpd the bulb in place. The one that worked did not have that tape.

..A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

(post #84069, reply #6 of 15)

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

(post #84069, reply #10 of 15)

after you clean them remove any oxidation on the tabs/pins/sockets with a pencil eraser...

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

(post #84069, reply #14 of 15)

This summer, on really humid days, our kitchen light has also refused to turn on. I went out and bought bulbs and was about to replace them when the light started working again. So I never did. Then another rainy day and it wouldn't turn on again. It works 95% percent of the time, but on really humid days it doesn't.